To date, there haven’t been any large-scale studies showing that saffron can effectively reduce ADHD symptoms. That doesn’t mean saffron is ineffective in ADHD, though. A number of smaller studies suggest saffron holds promise as a solo therapy and as a complementary therapy to enhance the benefits of typical ADHD medications such as methylphenidate. Methylphenidate, known by the brand names like Ritalin and Concerta, is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for the treatment of ADHD. It belongs to a class of drugs called central nervous system stimulants, which work by regulating chemicals in your brain thought to underlie ADHD symptoms. In 2019, a landmark pilot study brought saffron versus methylphenidate to the attention of the ADHD community. Researchers found that 20–30 mg of saffron a day for a period of 6 weeks was comparable to treatment with methylphenidate for symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity. Since that time, more research has emerged supporting the benefits of saffron for ADHD. A 2022 studyTrusted Source found saffron was more effective than methylphenidate for reducing ADHD symptoms of hyperactivity, though methylphenidate was more effective for inattention symptoms. Both therapies improved the number of hours slept among participants, which is a common challenge in ADHD, but only saffron helped with falling asleep. When saffron and methylphenidate were used together in a 2021 clinical trial, the combination was found to be more effective than the use of methylphenidate alone. These findings were supported by a 2022 clinical trial, which also found that saffron and methylphenidate were a superior combination.